Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-24
To-DAY's RACES.
THE PIUTE RACE,
a Novel and Interesting Indian Tou,na-
ment-An Eloquent Chief.

a Novel and Interesting Indian Tou,na-
ment-An Eloquent Chief.
Yesterday at Agricultural Park was wit
messed one of the most novel and interest
ing races that ever took place over any race
course in America. For several years it
has been custom with the Directors of
the Agricultural Society of the State of Ne
veda to give purses for an Indian pony
race, and the entries are not Hmited-the
more the merrier. During the past hop
picking season John Mackey, Superin-
tendent of the Rancho Del Paso, has had
200 PiGte Indians engaged in that business,
and as hop pickers they are said to be very
much superior to the Chinese. These In
dians are from Winnemucca and the
camp3odies in the neighborhood Of the
Humboldt They are about as fine speci-
mems of the red man as can be found in
America. Some days ago Mr.. Mackey sug-
gested an
INDIAN PONY RACE
At the State Fair. and the Directors imme-
diately made arrangements for one, and
no doubt its advertisement to take place
yesterday had much to do with bringing
out the large crowd. When the race was
called fourteen bucks rode into the track in
front of the stand, welI-mounted. ready for
the contest. They ali rode bareback, and
some of them had no brides, simply hack
amores. The Indians We're all tall, good
looking long, black hair, wore blue
trousers, white shirts, red, blue and
green silk handkerchief turbans.
were gaudily decorated with beads
and fea hers, while their faces were covered
with war paint. Marshal McMullen par
AIDED them up the stretch by twos and then
down all abreast. The horses were loaned
by Mr.. Mackey for the occasion, and among
them were some fine animals. They were
brought TO the scratch and started with the
word Co." There was wild rush. the
horses shot ahead with their excited riders
leaning forward. their heads stretched
away out over the animals neck, they
commenced plying their whips from the
jump, and away they went around the
turn all in bunch, the
EXCITED THOUSANDS CHEERING Justify.
Soon the staying qualities of the animals
began to tell, and when the upper turn
was reached they were strung out for an
eighth of mile. On on, they came; they
rounded into the homestretch and a pref
tier sight was never witnessed than that of
their coming home, urging their horses to
the utmost Two of the Indians had bet
ter horses than their companions, and il
was neck and neck race to the score.
Doxology Dick winning by a nose from
Capt. John Sykes, the others coming in
under whip at intervals of two and three
seconds until all had passed the Judges
stand Such shouting was never before
heard upon the track, and no race ever be.
| fore furnished. so much fun for the sDecta-
! tors.
The two winners rode back to the Judges
stand, and Captain John Sykes, in true
jockey style, held up his whip to the Judges
stand for the word to dismount. Both oil
the Indians went up into the stand, anC
Captain Sykes,
IN REGULAR TURF STYLE,
Claimed the race on foul He said to Mr.
LaRue would have passed Doxoloey
Dick if l had had time In order tc
make all things right with the red men
the judges declared it dead heat, aud
awarded each silver medal and gave
| Captain Sykes $100 to divide pro rata
among the contestants. The Captain then
tasked if he could have the privilege of ad-
dressing the multitude Director LaRue
rang the bell several times, and when
order was secured introduced Cap.
tain John Sykes, Chief of the Pi-
ute tribe of the State of Nevada
The Captain has splendid voice, is good
at gesticulation and would pass in any crowd
as first-class stump orator.
Addressing Mr.. LaRue, he said: Big
chief and people of California: | come
| from beyond the snow-clad peaks of the
Sierras. / am native of the State Of Ne.
vada, State that has produced $45, 600, ,00C
in silver. A State of uubounded resources
one that has many attractions for the peo.
pie of my race. My father, my grand.
father, my great-grandfather, and my an.
cestors for centuries are buried in the sage
brush State, and there expect to be buried
at the close ofmy life. The Piutes are a Iowa
tribe; we are true to our great Chief ir
/ Washington, and Uncle Sam is our father
Our people long since buried the hatche
that once was raised against the pale face
and to-day and for many years past we livs
in peace and harmony with the white man
We are not idle, we are not addicted to th,
use of fire water, but we are sober and in
dustrious. We have crossed the noun
tatns, the horizon of our native wilds, t,
settle the Chinese hop-picking question il
this State. Immense applause. We CLAIM
to be native Americans. [Applause Th
Mongols come from across the ocean, an
the money they earn is reshipped in thei